DOJ requests stay to allow action on immigration

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department on Monday formally requested an emergency stay to put on hold a Texas judge’s decision that temporarily blocked President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration from taking effect.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen had issued a court order to halt the immigration actions, which would grant temporary relief from deportation for 4.7 million people who are in the United States illegally.

The Justice Department said Hanen lacked authority to issue that preliminary injunction. Officials also filed on Monday to appeal his decision, and they asked that the immigration actions be allowed to move forward while the appeals process plays out.